Page 10 of The Hunt of Night

All eyes turn to me, a heavy weight settling over the room before nestling itself deep into my gut. There’s no point wasting more time with the thoughts that have been taking up far too much space at the back of my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I let the words slip from my lips. “I knew what they were planning with Vallie.”

A weight shifts from my shoulders, but it doesn’t leave entirely, confirming that expressing the truth now doesn’t alleviate the mess I’ve created or my guilt.

“Why didn’t you share that sooner?” Cassian asks, foot up on the sofa as he stares at me intently.

I rub my lips together, hating the fact that we’re going to get deep on this, but there’s no avoiding it. “Because I thought if I could just get my father to listen, he would realize how dumb it was.”

Once upon a time, I told him everything. Once upon a time, he was an amazing father. Once upon a time feels like a distant dream, so far away that I question its authenticity now.

“But he wasn’t listening,” Kryll murmurs, and I hum.

“No.”

“So, why didn’t you say something?” Raiden pushes, and I exhale, my breath deflating me as I avoid their gazes.

“Because I felt helpless.”

The true weight of what I’d revealed shifts inside of me, the admission of a weakness lightening the world sitting on my shoulders. But what causes even more of a stir inside me is the calming silence that swirls around us.

I expect a jibe from Raiden or a grunt from Cassian. Shit, even a mutter from Kryll, but instead…there’s none of that.

When I finally manage to lift my head, I find them all frowning, but there’s no overwhelming outbursts of anger. Yet.

“You know this is all bullshit, right?” Kryll states, wiping a hand down his face. “Forcing fated mates is wrong,” he adds for clarity, and I nod in agreement.

“Being mated to Vallie in any way at all is wrong,” Raiden grunts, his jaw ticking even tighter.

“But to Addi?” Cassian asks, his words lingering in the air as a deeper silence descends over the room.

I can’t deny the sense of hope that takes root in my chest. The idea of being connected to her in any way at all is consuming, but on that level? Fuck, that’s something else entirely.

No one disagrees with his question. No one makes it sound absurd. Not even Kryll, the solitary shifter who refuses to admit anything when it comes to her.

But as much as the idea of connecting with Addi like that offers me a blossom of hope, I know full well it’s not an option. Especially not in the way they were attempting to make it happen. Forcing that on someone like Addi would only push her further away, which is the complete opposite of what I want with her.

It bundles my stomach in knots, but I express that fact to the guys. “Addi would never have responded well to that, especially under forced pretenses.”

“Agreed,” Cassian admits with a disgruntled sigh. “But she’s hot when she’s angry,” he adds, making me snicker.

Raiden practically snorts. “She’s hot when she’s taking down the fucking council, not so hot when she’s taking it out on me.”

I jump at the opportunity to shift the topic of conversation, especially since they’re not intent on burying me in my mistakes. Leaning forward again, I rub a hand through my hair. “I’m guessing she’s pissed because you were followed while following her?” I ask, and his eyes widen.

“How did you figure that out?”

“How did you not?” I retort, brows pinching.

“It’s beside the point,” he grumbles, waving me off.

“It happened, and there’s nothing we can do about it, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s pissed at you,” Kryll states, and Cassian nods in agreement.

“Facts.”

Raiden glares at the wolf. “If we’re airing all our secrets, it’s probably Cassian’s turn.”

I turn to look at Cassian, noting the confusion on his face as he points at himself with a slack jaw.

---